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Border Disconnect Boils Over; AZ GOP Chairman Under Fire

Dennis Durband, Editor

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Bob Fannin on Saturday repeatedly called on members of his party to avoid division over the border controversy, during the annual AZ GOP convention in Mesa. However, after the general meeting, Fannin used the occasion of an executive board meeting to chastise district chairmen for not supporting President George Bush's proposed Temporary Worker Program.

The move backfired on Fannin as angry district chairmen revolted. Fannin's longevity as state party chairman beyond this second year of his two-year term is now very much in doubt.

Former Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Jeff Groscost, now chairman of Legislative District 18, told Fannin he is the problem. Fannin was told that instead of opposing the vast majority of Republicans who support the Protect Arizona Now initiative and who oppose temporary and guest worker programs, he should use his position to relay that information to the White House.

Angry district chairmen believe that Fannin is out of touch with the grassroots precinct committeemen and that they cannot depend on him. Some of the chairmen discussed finding a replacement for Fannin, whose term expires in a year. The name of former Governor Fife Symington came up in a discussion of the volunteer chairman's position.

Earlier in the day, Fannin had opened the general meeting with these remarks: "We are on a roll! Hasn't this been a great week! The president of the United States was here, and he makes everybody happy with his down-to-earth ways. One way to keep on a roll is to stay united. We have such great principles. The only way the Democrats can beat us is if they can divide us."

Before adjourning the general meeting, Fannin issued another call for unity. By then, 74 percent of the precinct captains had voted to endorse the Protect Arizona Now initiative -- in direct opposition to the White House and GOP leadership. There has been a disconnect between party leadership and the people ever since the PAN effort launched last year.

Fannin's plea for unity lasted for only a few more moments. Shortly thereafter, the border issue boiled over in the executive committee meeting.

It's not like Saturday's 317-109 vote in favor of PAN was anything new to Fannin and Republican leadership. Just two weeks earlier, the Maricopa County GOP had endorsed the PAN initiative as well.